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R.E.P.O. (short for “Retrieve, Extract & Profit Operation”) is an online co-op survival horror experience developed by Semiwork, released in early access on 26 February 2025 on Steam. The core loop centres on you and your squad entering spooky, physics-filled environments to collect valuables, transport them across hazardous terrain and extract them safely—all while monsters and environmental threats lurk in the shadows. Because teamwork, coordination and voice chat play such key roles, the number of players you can bring into a lobby directly impacts how you strategize your heist, divide roles (carrier, scout, guard, extractor) and manage extraction risk.
So what is the max amount of players in R.E.P.O.? According to multiple sources, the default maximum party size for R.E.P.O. is six players: that is, you plus five friends. In other words, six players is the standard cap as designed by the developers, enabling full-squad coordination without stretching hardware/stability too thin.
Maximum Players: The Official Limit and Practical Implications
Official Player Cap
The official, supported maximum number of players in a single R.E.P.O. session is six. PC Gamer states: “R.E.P.O. supports up to six players.” GamesRadar similarly notes: “You can play R.E.P.O. in a team of up to six players – you plus five others.” This means that when you create or join a lobby, you should expect up to six seats, no matchmaking by default, and friend-invites via Steam required.
Why Six Makes Sense
- With six players, you get enough hands to carry heavy items, guard teammates, manage extraction and fend off foes, without diluting the tension of the horror/stealth element.
- Voice proximity chat and coordination scale reasonably well with six; more players could make comms chaotic or redundant.
- The developers have optimized AI, loot tables and level design around a six-player lobby, rather than an unlimited party.
Gameplay Impact of Team Size
- Solo or small team (1-3 players): The game becomes significantly harder. You’ll face more risk carrying valuables alone, fewer hands to revive each other and less firepower against threats.
- Medium team (4-5 players): Balanced level of chaos and help—enough people to cover roles, yet still maintain tension.
- Full squad (6 players): Maximum teamwork potential. Best for full-scale extraction runs, heavier loads and riskier operations—but also higher coordination requirement.
- You don’t have to fill all six seats to start a game—R.E.P.O. allows you to begin with fewer players if needed.
Beyond Six: Modding, Workarounds and Risks
While the official cap is six players, enthusiastic modding communities have developed ways to increase the number of participants in a lobby. For example, the “MorePlayers” mod allows users to change the “MaxPlayers” value in R.E.P.O.’s config files. However—this comes with caveats:
- These mods are unofficial and unsupported by Semiwork, so you may encounter stability issues, broken AI or matchmaking.
- Using larger player counts may strain network/voice chat systems, break the intended pacing or render certain mechanics unbalanced.
- For a reliable and intended gameplay experience, sticking to the official six-player limit is strongly recommended.
How To Invite Friends and Form Your Squad
Here’s a quick breakdown of how to set up a session in R.E.P.O.:
- Launch the game and select Host Game from the main menu.
- Choose New Game (unless loading a save) and confirm.
- Use the Invite button in the lobby to bring your Steam friends into the session.
- Once your squad (up to six players) is ready, hit Start Game and prepare for extraction mayhem.
Tips: Choose the friend with the best internet connection to be host, ensure everyone has voice chat working (proximity voice is a core feature), and allocate roles in advance (e.g., heavy-carrier, scout, defenses).
